UNESCO Executive and Leadership Team

September, 2026

Leadership Overview

UNESCO has 7 executives leading key functions including statistical strategy, educational oversight, institutional governance, cultural management, communication policy, youth engagement, and regional administration.

Committed to global knowledge sharing, UNESCO advances cross-nationally comparable statistics on education, science, culture, and communication to inform international policy and sustainable development.

Leadership Roles at UNESCO

  • Chief Executive Officer - Vimla Devi
  • Chief Executive Officer Pesantren - Tuanku Karim
  • President - Yudith Santoso
  • President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO - Aelita Kondratova
  • President - Lawrence Anderson
  • President Club Des Jeunes - Desir Lamarre
  • President, The Communication Management Club - GholamReza Kazemidinan
  • Vimla Devi - Chief Executive Officer

    Vimla Devi, the Chief Executive Officer at UNESCO, directs the overarching statistical mission and global data collection frameworks. Devi architects the strategic vision for the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cross-nationally comparable data on education and science. By aligning organizational goals with international development targets, the Chief Executive Officer maintains the integrity of the UN depository. This leadership role involves managing complex relationships with member states to standardize reporting protocols across diverse regions. Vimla Devi drives the implementation of rigorous analytical methodologies to support evidence-based policy decisions worldwide. Through constant engagement with the Board, the Chief Executive Officer secures the necessary resources for long-term statistical capacity building. Ultimately, Devi ensures the organization remains the primary authority for global indicators in education, science, and technology, fostering transparency and informed decision-making across all member nations.

    Tuanku Karim - Chief Executive Officer Pesantren

    Tuanku Karim, the Chief Executive Officer Pesantren at UNESCO, manages specialized educational initiatives focused on traditional learning institutions. Karim directs the integration of these unique educational models into broader global frameworks for literacy and cultural preservation. Overseeing regional outreach, the Chief Executive Officer Pesantren ensures that local pedagogical practices align with international standards for quality and inclusivity. This role requires constant collaboration with educational stakeholders to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge systems and modern statistical reporting. Tuanku Karim drives the development of curriculum assessment tools that capture the impact of these institutions on community development. By optimizing resource allocation for specialized education, the Chief Executive Officer Pesantren strengthens the global statistical repository. Ultimately, Karim secures the relevance of traditional education within the modern UNESCO framework, ensuring that diverse learning environments contribute effectively to the global knowledge base.

    Yudith Santoso - President

    Yudith Santoso, the President at UNESCO, oversees the strategic execution of science and technology statistical programs. Santoso directs the analysis of global research and development trends, providing critical insights for international policy formulation. By managing the coordination between technical teams and global partners, the President ensures the accuracy and reliability of cross-national data sets. This leadership position involves navigating complex scientific landscapes to identify emerging indicators for technological progress. Yudith Santoso drives the adoption of innovative data collection methods that enhance the visibility of scientific output in developing regions. Through active participation in high-level governance meetings, the President aligns operational priorities with the broader mission of the organization. Ultimately, Santoso strengthens the global statistical infrastructure, enabling member states to leverage data for sustainable scientific advancement and technological growth across all operational territories.

    Aelita Kondratova - President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO

    Aelita Kondratova, the President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO at UNESCO, manages cultural and artistic statistical initiatives within the regional framework. Kondratova directs the documentation of cultural heritage and creative industry metrics, ensuring these data points integrate seamlessly into the global repository. By overseeing local research projects, the President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO captures the nuances of cultural expression and its economic impact. This role involves fostering partnerships with regional institutions to standardize data collection on communication and arts. Aelita Kondratova drives the implementation of regional strategies that support the broader UNESCO mission of cultural preservation. Through rigorous oversight of local reporting, the President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO ensures that regional contributions inform international policy. Ultimately, Kondratova secures the visibility of cultural statistics, providing a comprehensive view of the creative landscape within the broader global statistical framework.
    Aelita Kondratova

    Lawrence Anderson - President

    Lawrence Anderson, the President at UNESCO, leads the strategic expansion of communication and information statistics. Anderson directs the assessment of digital infrastructure and media landscape trends, providing essential data for global connectivity initiatives. By managing the collaboration between technical experts and international policy bodies, the President ensures the consistency of communication metrics across diverse markets. This leadership role involves identifying key indicators that measure the impact of information technology on societal development. Lawrence Anderson drives the development of frameworks that track the evolution of communication systems, supporting the organization's goal of universal access to information. Through constant engagement with global stakeholders, the President aligns statistical outputs with the needs of the digital age. Ultimately, Anderson strengthens the capacity of the organization to monitor and report on the rapidly changing communication sector, ensuring data-driven insights guide international development efforts.

    Desir Lamarre - President Club Des Jeunes

    Desir Lamarre, the President Club Des Jeunes at UNESCO, directs youth-focused statistical programs and engagement strategies. Lamarre oversees the collection of data regarding youth participation in education, science, and cultural activities. By managing the outreach to young demographics, the President Club Des Jeunes ensures that the organization captures the perspectives and needs of the next generation. This role involves coordinating with global youth networks to standardize reporting on youth-related indicators. Desir Lamarre drives the integration of these metrics into the broader UNESCO statistical repository, highlighting the role of youth in sustainable development. Through active leadership, the President Club Des Jeunes fosters a culture of data-driven advocacy among young stakeholders. Ultimately, Lamarre secures the inclusion of youth-centric data in international policy discussions, ensuring that the organization remains responsive to the evolving needs of global youth populations.

    GholamReza Kazemidinan - President, The Communication Management Club

    GholamReza Kazemidinan, the President, The Communication Management Club at UNESCO, directs the strategic management of communication-related statistical projects. Kazemidinan oversees the analysis of information flow and media management practices, providing critical data for international communication policy. By managing the coordination between communication experts and statistical teams, the President, The Communication Management Club ensures the accuracy of reporting on media landscapes. This leadership role involves identifying best practices in communication management that can be scaled globally. GholamReza Kazemidinan drives the development of indicators that measure the effectiveness of communication strategies in promoting education and cultural understanding. Through constant engagement with the Board, the President, The Communication Management Club aligns operational priorities with the organization's mission. Ultimately, Kazemidinan strengthens the global statistical repository by providing deep insights into the management of communication systems, supporting informed decision-making across all member states.

    Explore Leadership Teams in Federal

    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding UNESCO Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads UNESCO?
    UNESCO is led by Vimla Devi (Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Tuanku Karim (Chief Executive Officer Pesantren) and Yudith Santoso (President).
    Who is part of UNESCO’s executive team?
    The executive team of UNESCO includes leaders such as Vimla Devi (Chief Executive Officer), Tuanku Karim (Chief Executive Officer Pesantren), Yudith Santoso (President) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does UNESCO have?
    UNESCO has 7 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in UNESCO’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of UNESCO includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Executive Officer Pesantren, President, President of Saint-Petersburgs Section CID - UNESCO, President.